Jefferson City officials reviewing need in city departments

JEFFERSON CITY - The Jefferson City administrator is reviewing staffing levels in different city departments to decide where specific money included in the 2015 budget will be spent. The Jefferson City Council passed the budget Monday night and included about $232,000 for department staffing and equipment.

Initially there had been four positions slotted into the budget, including a human resources position, police officer, firefighter-training officer and public works maintenance position. At Monday night's city council meeting, the council decided to combine the salaries and equipment costs of each position and call it a "one item line". This means the money has no pre-determined destination and instead will be decided after a review of the different departments.

City Administrator Steve Crowell said, "The money is there, the positions aren't there. It could be different combinations of equipment and personnel."

Crowell will start working with department heads in November after the new budget takes form. He will look at the needs of different departments and then prioritize them.

City Council member Ralph Blay said, "It gives us flexibility during the course of the year to adjust to actual revenue conditions and actual needs."

The council expects to hear feedback about where the money should go in the coming months.